HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced an award totaling $900,000 over three years to Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE) to establish the nation’s first national resource center to assist communities across the country in their efforts to provide services and supports for older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals.

“The Resource Center will provide information, assistance and resources for both mainstream aging organizations and LGBT organizations and will provide assistance to LGBT individuals as they plan for future long-term care needs,” said Secretary Sebelius.

SAGE is the nation’s oldest and largest organization serving LGBT older adults. In creating the Resource Center, SAGE will forge a partnership with 10 organizations with expertise in a wide range of areas including mainstream aging, LGBT aging, culture change and competency and program evaluation. The Resource Center will engage, empower and support mainstream aging providers, LGBT providers and LGBT older adults to ensure that LGBT elders have the necessary and culturally appropriate supports and services to successfully age in place.

“AoA frequently turns to national organizations to support our national network of community- based aging organizations in their efforts to work with specific minority populations that are traditionally underserved,” said Kathy Greenlee, Assistant Secretary for Aging who heads the HHS Administration on Aging (AoA). “AoA has traditionally funded national organizations to provide technical assistance on providing supports and services to African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian and Pacific Islander Americans and Native Americans. LGBT older adults represent a community with unique needs that also must be addressed.”

Among other tools, SAGE plans to develop a comprehensive, web-based clearinghouse which will include diverse resources, social networking tools, an “Ask the Experts” service, web-based trainings and other features.